China, 1878-85 Large Dragon, the masterfully written-up study with hand drawn illustrations and explanations for the identification of each cliché, comprising the twenty-five clichés (identification according to the owner) of the 1878 thin paper 1ca. unused (17) and used (8), 1882 wide margins 1ca. unused (15) and used (10), and 1883-85 thick paper 1ca. unused (15) and used (10), a few of the thick paper issues are actually thin paper, mainly good to very fine, some faults, yet of a high standard not normally associated with such a study (75).
Estimate HK$ 100,000 - 120,000

Provenance: Bernard Stoloff, Christie's Robson Lowe (Zurich), 14.5.1987, lot 2206. Est. HK$100,000-120,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$100,000-120,000

China, 1878-85 Large Dragon, the masterfully written-up study with hand drawn illustrations and explanations for the identification of each cliché, comprising the twenty-six clichés (identification according to the owner) as applicable for the 1878 thin paper 3ca. unused (9) and used (17), 1882 wide margins 3ca. used (16), and 1883-85 thick paper 3ca. unused (2) and used (21), a few of the thick paper issues are misidentified, fair to fine, some faults (65).
Estimate HK$ 70,000 - 90,000

Provenance: Bernard Stoloff, Christie's Robson Lowe (Zurich), 14.5.1987, lot 2207. Est. HK$70,000-90,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$70,000-90,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. to 5ca. cancelled by seals, excellent colours, choice centring, fine to very fine. Chan 1-3.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 1ca. to 5ca. the 1ca. [5] with plate variety broken frame at top left corner and 5ca. have large hole perforations and are cancelled by double-ring d.s. (the 5ca. in red), the 3ca. with seal cancellation, fine. Chan 1c-3.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 3ca. brown-red, Setting I, single [5] with sheet margin at right, cancelled by part "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. of "Dec _ 80", fine to very fine. Chan 2.
Estimate HK$ 1,200 - 1,500 Est. HK$1,200-1,500 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,200-1,500

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 3ca. brown-red, Setting V, a complete sheet of 20 (5 x 4) without margins as usual, large hole perforations, clear shade highlighting the unevenness of the registration of the printing, on bright white paper, cliché [26] shows extraneous dot of printing ink on frameline at foot below left numeral "3", reinforced along central horizontal row of perfs., very fine and wonderfully fresh unused with practically full original gum. A marvelous sheet. Chan 2.
Estimate HK$ 200,000 - 250,000

Provenance: "Ming", Corinphila (Zurich), 25.3.1987, lot 4746.

No sheets from Setting V are known with selvedge (sheet margin). The only recorded multiple with sheet margins is the used pair being offered in the following lot 15.

We record the following thirteen sheets from Setting V :

— E.D. Finney, H.R. Harmer (New York), 6.5.1952, lot 292; M.F. Huang, Zurich Asia (Hong Kong), 21.6.2003, lot 17; Zurich Asia (Hong Kong), 25.3.2018, lot 151
— Sir Percival David, Robson Lowe (London), 28.5.1963, lot 178; "Ming", Corinphila (Zurich), 29.9.1988, lot 4084
— Sir Percival David, Robson Lowe (London), 16.12.1964, lot 1074; Dr. Warren G. Kauder, Robson Lowe (London), 10.11.1971, lot 89; Christie's Robson Lowe (Zurich), 1.11.1995, lot 2651
— Sir Percival David, Robson Lowe (London), 22.7.1970, lot 39; James B. Whang, Christie's (Hong Kong), 2.11.1994, lot 1596
— Richard Canman, Stanley Gibbons (London), 19.10.1972, lot 136; Stanley Gibbons (London), 15.2.1977, lot 738; Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman; Lam Man Yin; Interasia (Hong Kong), 26.2.2011, lot 38
— George Alevizos (Santa Monica), 8-9.2.1972, lot 1021; Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong), 7.11.1996, lot A38; Interasia (Hong Kong), 29.6.2013, lot 201
— Paul Hock, Christie's Robson Lowe (Zurich), 19.10.1983, lot 102; Giulio Mochi David Feldman (Zurich), 26.10.1984, lot 40572
— "Ming", Corinphila (Zurich), 25.3.1987, lot 4746. The above sheet
— Philip Ireland, Christie's Robson Lowe (Zurich), 25.5.1989, lot 2119
— Major James Starr, Sotheby's (London), 11.9.1991, lot 53
— Mizuhara Meiso, Spink (Hong Kong), 17.1.2016, lot 1610
— Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong), 15.5.1997, lot 103. This is the only recorded sheet on thick paper.
— H.B.R. Clarke, Robson Lowe (London), 22.4.1953. Because the sheet was mounted on white paper in the catalogue photograph, it is difficult to match this with any of the other sheets. The catalogue entry for the Clarke sheet reads "in a rather worn state and with fairly rough perf." Est. HK$200,000-250,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$200,000-250,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 3ca. brown-red, Setting V, horizontal pair [21-3] with sheet margin at foot, deep bright colour on fresh white paper, near perfect centring, centrally cancelled by Peking seal in blue, diagonal creasing, otherwise very fine. An immensely rare and important positional piece with complete sheet margin. Chan 2.
Estimate HK$ 20,000 - 25,000

Provenance: Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong), 7.11.1996, lot A39.

References: James B. Whang, History of the Large Dragons. An Anthology of James B. Whang's Writings (Taipei, 1999), p. 91.

THE ONLY RECORDED MULTIPLE FROM SETTING V WITH SHEET MARGIN. Est. HK$20,000-25,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$20,000-25,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 5ca. orange, deep colour, well centred, fine to very fine unused with practically full original gum, one slightly blunt perf. at foot. Chan 3.
Estimate HK$ 5,000 - 6,000 Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 5ca. orange, bright colour, right frame line shows distinctive "bite" characteristic of examples which emanate from the right of the sheet, fine unused with traces of original gum which has dried into paper. Chan 3.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 4,000 Est. HK$3,000-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-4,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 5ca. orange, Setting II, horizontal strip of three [7-5-4], large hole perforations, cancelled by two strikes of Peking seal in blue, left stamp has vertical creasing, fine to very fine. Chan 3.
Estimate HK$ 10,000 - 12,000 Est. HK$10,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-12,000

China, 1878 Large Dragon thin paper 5ca. orange, Setting II, vertical block of ten [12-8/6-19/14-20/7-21/3-25] representing the two right vertical rows of the sheet, showing characteristic printing "bite" along top and right framelines, natural paper fold at top left, good colour, well centred with perfs. intact, cancelled by Tientsin seals, some foxed perfs. and splits in right margin, nevertheless fine and a significant multiple. Chan 3.
Estimate HK$ 70,000 - 90,000

Provenance: Richard Canman, Stanley Gibbons (London), 19.10.1972, lot 218
Philip Ireland, Christie's Robson Lowe (Zurich), 25.5.1989, lot 2132.

References: James B. Whang, History of the Large Dragons. An Anthology of James B. Whang's Writings (Taipei, 1999), pp. 112-114.

THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE FOR SETTING II.

The largest recorded multiples for Setting II are a.) horizontal block of ten from the lower two rows of the sheet, ex Richard Canman, S.G. 19.10.1972, lot 219; Giulio Mochi, David Feldman, 24.10.1984, lot 40580; and Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila, 7.11.1996, lot A70; b.) the above vertical block of ten (the two right rows of the sheet). Est. HK$70,000-90,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$70,000-90,000

China, 1882 Large Dragon wide margin 1ca. green, Setting III, a stupendous block of twelve [25-18-16/8-14-3/7-12-9/1-15-20] from the lower left corner of the sheet with selvedge at foot, stellar colour on brilliant white paper, uneven inking resulting in deep green shade at left, near perfect centring within even expansive margins, very fine and fresh unused with much original gum, a few inconsequential light rust spots on reverse and some reinforced perfs. A significant multiple, being the third largest recorded. A gem for the connoisseur. Chan 4.
Estimate HK$ 150,000 - 200,000

Provenance: Godfrey Mellor, Robson Lowe (London), 15.5.1969, lot 2146
Richard Canman, Stanley Gibbons (London), 19.10.1972, lot 94
Philip Ireland, Christie's Robson Lowe (Zurich), 25.5.1989, lot 2101. Est. HK$150,000-200,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$150,000-200,000

China, 1882 Large Dragon wide margin 1ca. green, Setting III, vertical pair [5/6], delicate pastel-like shade, centrally cancelled by practically complete strike of "Customs/Shanghai" double-ring d.s. of "Nov 13 82" in red, very fine appearance, a few small faults including 2mm. tear in margin at lower right. Chan 4.
Estimate HK$ 10,000 - 12,000 Est. HK$10,000-12,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$10,000-12,000

China, 1882 Large Dragon wide margin 1ca. green with sheet margin at foot, showing portions of four letters of the papermaker's watermark, cancelled by complete seal, very fine. Chan 4h.
Estimate HK$ 8,000 - 10,000

Provenance: Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong), 15.5.1997, lot B13.

Examples showing more than two letters of the watermark are essential in the reconstruction of the complete watermark. Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1882 Large Dragon wide margin 3ca. brown-red, Setting VI or VII, vertical strip of three [18/19/6], cancelled by two practically complete strikes of the Shanghai seal, light creasing, some clipped perfs. at top as well as some blunt perfs. at sides, nevertheless a fine positional piece representing the complete row of stamps from the right of the sheet. Chan 5.
Estimate HK$ 8,000 - 10,000 Est. HK$8,000-10,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$8,000-10,000

China, 1882 Large Dragon wide margin 3ca. brown-red and 5ca. yellow-ochre, each centrally cancelled by complete or nearly so strike of Shanghai seal, very fine appearance, minor faults. Chan 5, 6.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1882 Large Dragon wide margin 5ca. yellow-ochre, pale shade, well centred, cancelled by Peking seals in blue, fine to very fine and a flawless example of this difficult stamp which nearly always is encountered with imperfections. Chan 6.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 1ca. to 5ca. clean-cut perfs., superb colours, the 3ca. in a red shade and the 5ca. being a deep lemon-yellow shade, well centred, fine to very fine unused with large part to much original gum, the first and last have minor traces of rust on gum. A choice set. Chan 7-9.
Estimate HK$ 20,000 - 25,000 Est. HK$20,000-25,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$20,000-25,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 1ca. to 5ca. clean-cut perfs., cancelled by seals in blue, fine to very fine and fresh despite a few light natural creases. Chan 7-9.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 1ca. to 5ca (2), clean-cut perfs., cancelled by seals, all except 3ca. in blue, fine to very fine, one 5ca. has browning on reverse not affecting appearance from front (4). Chan 7-9.
Estimate HK$ 7,000 - 9,000 Est. HK$7,000-9,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$7,000-9,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 3ca. clean-cut perfs., selected shades and impressions ranging from brown-red to Venetian red, cancelled by seals, fine to very fine (5). Chan 8.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000 Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 3ca. clean-cut perfs., selected shades and impressions ranging from pale vermilion to brown-red, four cancelled by seals (three in blue) and the other with small part double-ring d.s. (Chinkiang) and oval Customs Mail Matter h.s. in red, fine to very fine (5). Chan 8.
Estimate HK$ 5,000 - 6,000 Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 3ca. brown-red, clean-cut perfs., Setting VIII, the complete reconstruction of the twenty positions, comprising :

Block of ten [8-1-15/17-26-10/25-3-11-21], the last two stamps with part sheet margins at foot, fine to very fine unused with much original gum, a few split and reinforced perfs. between 1st and 2nd rows of stamps, the largest known unused multiple from Setting VIII.
Provenance
Sir Percival David, Robson Lowe (London), 22.7.1970, lot 45
Giulio Mochi, David Feldman (Zurich), 24.10.1984, lot 40599
Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong). 7.10.1997, lot C57

Block of four [4-9/18-6], fine to very fine unused with much original gum.
Provenance and Auction Record
Major James Starr, Sotheby's (London), 11.9.1991, lot 66
Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong), 11.11.1999, lot 109

Block of four [23-24/15-20], very fine unused with much original gum.
Provenance
Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman, Sotheby's and Corinphila (Hong Kong), 7.10.1997, lot C57

Vertical pair [20/14], cancelled by Chefoo seal, fine to very fine.

Horizontal pair [13-5], cancelled by Shanghai seal, very fine.

A remarkable reconstruction, which includes the largest recorded unused multiple for this Setting. Fine to very fine. One of the few complete reconstructions achieved for Setting VIII. Chan 8.
Estimate HK$ 250,000 - 300,000 Est. HK$250,000-300,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$250,000-300,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 3ca. brown-red, clean-cut perfs., Setting VIII, horizontal pair [9-13], rich red colour, well centred, centrally cancelled by large Tientsin seal, a few blunt perfs. at lower left, otherwise fine. Chan 8.
Estimate HK$ 6,000 - 8,000 Est. HK$6,000-8,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$6,000-8,000

China, 1883-85 Large Dragon thick paper 3ca. vermilion [4], clean-cut perfs., variety semi-circle to right of lower left "3", pale shade, near perfect centring, cancelled by "Customs/Newchwang" double-ring d.s. without year date, this being the distinct dull vermilion shade unique to Setting XIII, very fine, a few slightly blunt perfs. at foot. Chan 8c.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000 Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000